From baby grand to concert grand, pianos have been built in virtually every size over the past three hundred years, ranging from around 4 1/2′ to 10′ long. Today, 4′ 8″ to 9′ is the typical range. Modern Grand Piano Sizes Petite Grand Pianos are shorter than 4′ 11″ (sometimes called miniature) Baby Grand Pianos – 4’11”… Read more »
Grant's Blog
Raised by Hippies Raised by Beatniks
I was raised by hippies, who were raised by beatniks. My parents’ generation actively defied convention whenever possible. My mom had long, straight hair. My dad had a long beard. We even made our own yogurt. My aunt and uncle had both been city kids who moved to the country to be self-sustaining. I remember… Read more »
Modern Player Pianos
PNOmation 3 by QRS is easy to use, sounds fantastic, and best of all, invisible! Easily controlled by universal remote, smartphone or a tablet, this state-of-the-art technology makes your piano the heart of your home entertainment system. Instead of ripping, streaming, or syncing, PNOmation 3 stores the entire library of music – everything from Frank Sinatra to Diana… Read more »
Silent Piano
Today, you can have digital piano features in a traditional, acoustic piano, making it more versatile and fun to play. In fact, our expert technicians can add these features to any piano – even one you already own. Silent piano overcomes the challenges of placing your piano where it will look best while letting the… Read more »
Piano Partner for iPad
Roland’s innovative Wireless Connect turns your iPad and Roland HP series digital hybrid piano into a powerful education and creativity package. The Flash Card App is an interactive music game for developing your listening and reading skills. The player is challenged to play the note shown on the “virtual” flash card or heard aurally. Three levels… Read more »
Silent Piano and Hybrid Piano Upgrade
Turn any traditional acoustic piano into a true digital hybrid piano. PNOscan is at the heart of today’s most advanced Silent Piano system. Make your piano more fun to play while preserving the authentic touch and response of real keys moving real hammers. The Only True Hybrid Other hybrid pianos are actually digital pianos with… Read more »
The Fight for Steinway & Sons
It’s been surprising how much interest there is in the potential sale of Steinway Music Properties. I’ve become accustomed to people asking me about Steinway & Sons pianos. There’s a fasciation with the instruments built by the 160-year-old manufacturer founded by German immigrants and still based in Queens, New York. It seems that there is… Read more »
What About Square Grands?
The square grand is to the modern grand piano what the walkie-talkie is to the smartphone. Built from the late 1700’s until the mid-1850’s, they were a step along the way to the modern piano but, as my father always says, “there’s a reason they stopped building them.” Plus, they weren’t square… they were rectangles.
My Favorite Piano Teacher
On November 3, 2011, my great-aunt Ruth Billings passed away in much the same way that she lived; peacefully and surrounded by family and music. While many of my friends in the piano community have heard stories about my Aunt Ruth, there are two things about my favorite piano teacher that almost nobody knew. One… Read more »
Piano Man Immortal
Steinway Artist Billy Joel has found his place among the greatest pianists of all time – gracing the walls of legendary Steinway Hall in New York. A Paul Wyse portrait of the world’s most famous Piano Man was unveiled at the iconic showroom on December 12, 2011, placing his image among those of Franz Liszt,… Read more »